These days more than ever, a thorough Spring Clean is what we need to keep our households in good health.
Also, after so many days inside - haven’t you got the itch to open the windows wide, rearrange things around your living room and tidy (ALL OF) those cupboards? We most definitely do! So we have compiled our top tips to a greener, and healthier Spring Clean - not only will it help you refresh your home, it is also a great way to reduce stress & anxiety and will bring you a much-needed feeling of peace.
Take it one step at a time
Don’t know where to begin? The most difficult part is to get started and most people don’t Spring Clean their home only because they feel overwhelmed by the amount of work involved with it. That’s why we have compiled a room-by-room checklist to keep your journey through the house as smooth as possible - and only do what’s truly essential. For each room, we also included an easy zero waste swap so you can take this opportunity to screen your habits and progressively phase single-use products out of your life.
Sanitise the little things
Don’t underestimate the small bits and pieces of the house: doorknobs, remote controls, taps, cabinet handles and light switches are things that you touch every single day without really putting much thought to it. In times like these, it’s important to disinfect them on a daily basis to prevent germs from spreading - especially if you’re still having to go out. Outside the household, this also goes for keys, bank cards, rings and phones.
Declutter and organise
While the actual cleaning is an important part of Spring Clean, it’s also a great opportunity to declutter and organise your space.
This extra time at home is a good time to review what you have in your wardrobe and go through a wardrobe decluttering (Marie Kondo style!) to sort out the clothes you want to keep and those that you don’t wear anymore. Our previous posts on how to Detox your wardrobe and our Favourite platforms to sell clothes will guide you through the process - and bear in mind to consider fixing, reusing and donating before recycling. We are working on a way to make it easier than ever for you to donate things so we can all direct our unwanted items to those who need it most in the aftermath of this terrible crisis.
Reduce indoor pollution
The Guardian reports that during this time of slow living, there has been a huge drop in air pollution due to the shut down of industrial activity - which is great news for the natural world, but also for our societies as nitrogen dioxide is thought to increase ongoing respiratory illnesses like asthma. But it is important to also consider the quality of the air in your own home: some of the things we use to make our homes more comfortable, such as scented candles or air fresheners, increase our exposure to indoor chemicals.
Here is a list of things you can do to reduce indoor pollutants:
- Remember to air rooms out every day and open windows, or use the extractor fan, when cooking
- Make sure to clean your bed linen regularly, as unwashed bedsheets can also cause allergies, asthma and a stuffy nose - and are more attractive to dust mites. You can find our guide on how to clean and care for your bed linen and bedding here.
- Switch to soy wax candles - they are non-toxic and generally last longer than petroleum-based candles. We personally love the candles from Wax + Wick Workshop - in addition to being paraffin and phthalate-free, they are hand-poured in 100% recycled glass jars!
- Add some plants to your home - they are great natural air purifiers and humidifiers (you can order with our favourite plant supplier Patch Plants and will get great care tips as a bonus).
